Sole-leather-cutting machine.



PATENTED JUL'Y28, 1903..-

I D. GLAPP. SOLE LEATHER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPL IUATIONTILED AUG. 11, 1902. V 4 SHEETS-MILE! 3i.

N0 MODEL.

Patented July 28, 1903.

P TENT @FFr cE.

GEORGE D. OLAPP, OF- BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

. :LSbLE-LEATHER CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 734,819, dated July 28, 1903.

application filed A ugust11,1 902 Serial Nol19.191. (N inodel.)

To aZZ witom afma t aQ Be it knowiithat I, GEORGE D. G-LAPP, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an; Improvement in Y vide what is commonly called a beam soleleather-cutting machine with suitable means especially adapting for cutting out welts for boots and shoessuch, for instance, as shown in my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 62,909, filedJune 3, 1901, yet many of the features herein to be described are applicable to the machine when used for cutting out other things. The welt shown in said application consists of a strip of leather of uniformiwidth, cut to comprise a semicircular toe portion and a pair of straight side portions extending in, parallelism from the extremities of said toe portion, the ends of said side portions being tapered,and this particular form of welt canbe cut out of whole a stock or large pieces without waste, the several welts nestingtogether as they are cut. The. machine embodying this invention comprises a cutting-bed, a beam movabletoward and from said bed, suitable work-engaging devices for holding the material flat upon the cuttingbed, or, at least, as fiat as possible, and means for holding the material against sidewisemovement on the bed; also,

a suitable knife or setof knives for cutting out the welts borne by a suitable carrier, which is adapted to befmoved along a track and held securely in different positions there-' on, said track being formed on the movable beam, so that as the beam is operated the knives will be moved toward the cutting-bed to cut out the weltsg'also, a suitable finder 10-.

cated beside the knives, which consists,'essentially, of a blade adapted to be thrustinto the slit cut by one of the knives, which acts to assist in correctly locating the knife-sup- ,port and also in holding the work from crowding away from the knives while they penetrate the material.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a soleleather-outting machine embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. of the machine shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line 2 2, the knives and support therefor being omitted. Fig. 3 is the under side view of the set of knives and plate to which they are attached. Fig. 4 is the vertical section of a portion of one of the knives and its support.-

Fig. 5 is the detail showing the work-securing device, which prevents sidewise movement of the material. Fig. 6 is the side elevation of the knife support or carriage. Fig. 7 is the vertical section of the knife support or carriage shown in Fig. 6, taken on the dotted line 7 7. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing infull and dotted lines the slits made in the material by two succeeding strokes of the knives, and'Fig. 9 is aplan view of one of the welts.

(t represents the cutting-bed, which is snit ably supported by the machine-frame.

1) represents the beam, which is connected to the upright longitudinally-movable posts or supports 5, which have their bearings in the machine-frame, there being two such posts at each end of the beam. The posts at each end of the beam are connectedtogether by a cross-piece b 0 represents the main power-driven. shaft,

having its hearings in the machine-frame. To this shaft two eccentrics, as c, are secured, upon which usual straps c are placed, from which eccentric-rods 0 project downwardly, said rods being loosely or pivotally connected to the cross-pieces b As the main shaft is revolved the beam 1) is moved toward the cutting-bed and then raised or restored to its normal elevated position.

So much of the machine herein to be described is of usual construction, and so also is the treadle-controlled clutch mechanism by which the main shaft is prevented from making but.a single revolution each time it is started. 'I desire it to be understood, however, that while I have herein selected this well-known form of sole-leather-cutting machine as one well adapted to have the attachments embodying my invention appliedto it,

yet any pther well-kn0wn suitable sole-lealherthings, it is important that the material'shall be laid flat upon the cutting-bed, and to produce this result I have provided a pair of horizontal bars d e, which extend lengthwise the machine above the cutting-bed, and means for moving them independently toward the cutting-bed and into engagement with the material on the bed. These bars therefore serve as work-engaging devices. These bars are located a suitable distance apart to provide ample space between them for the knives. The ends of the bars 01 6 enter and work up and down in guideways d e, which are made as vertical grooves in plates e1 e which are secured to the machine-frame. As herein shown, these plates each have two parallel guideways, so that the bars may be placed in either of said guideways at will. The bar d has connected to it ator near each end a link (1 which is loosely connected to one'end of a lever d pivoted at d, the opposite end of said lever d being loosely connected by a link d with the short arm d secured to a rod or bar (i having its hearings in the machine-frame. The rod or bar d extends horizontally lengthwise the machine to provide for connection therewith of the means for actuating the bar 01 at each end. One end of therod or bar (1 projects beyond the machineframe and has secured to its outer projecting end a hand-lever d", by which said rod or bar will be operated. On the outside of the machine-frame a ratchettoothed plate (Z is secured, the teeth of which are adapted to be engaged by said hand-lever d", to thereby hold said hand-lever positively in whatever position it may be set.

To depress the bar at into engagement with the material on the bed, the hand-lever d is i set or gang, as shown in Fig. 3, each blade correspondingly depressed.

The bar e has connected to it at or near I each end a spring 6 which extends downwardly on the inside of the machine-frame,

and the lower end of said spring is loosely connected to a short arm e projecting from the rod or bar 6 having its hearings i the machine-frame. The rod or bar 6 extends horizontally lengthwise the machine to provide for the. connection thereof with the means for actu- 1 ating the bar 6 at each end. One end of said 1 rod or bar e projects beyond the machine-j is correspondingly depressed. The material having been placed on the bed, first one of said bars is brought into engagement with it and then the other and the material thereby laid fiat upon the bed. i

I do not limit my invention to the. particular construction of the work-engaging devices herein shown and described, as it is obvious that many forms of work-engaging devices capable of accomplishing substantially the same results may be employed, which come within the spirit and scope of this invention, the main object being to hold the work flat upon the cutting-bed. It is also necessary to positively hold the material against sidewise or endwise movement on the bed, even while laid flat and held upon the bed by said workengaging devices, and to accomplish this resulta work-engaging device is provided, which, as herein shown, (see Fig. 5,) consists of one or more awls, two being herein shown, attached to a leverf, pivoted atf to an ear f rising from a yoke f which straddles the bar cl, and is adj ustahly secured to said bar by a set-screw f The lever f is formed or provided with ahand-lever or extensionf by which it may be operated. The awls are,

designed to penetrate the leather or other material and enter the wooden cutting-bed, and thereby positively hold the material from sidewise or endwise movement on the bed, yet such device does not operate to any appreciable extent to hold the material flat upon the bed only at the particular part thereof penetrated by the awls. This work-securing device is adjustable along on the bar d, so that it may be brought into position to engage pieces of leather of different widths or lengths.

The work-securing device is attached to the bar (1 simply for convenience, as an independent support may be provided for it, if desired.

The knives herein shown for cutting out the welts comprise several blades arranged as a cuttinga portion of the welt, which is shown in Fig. 8. As shown in said Fig. 3, three blades are provided, one, as 2, and another, as 3, which are made alike, or approximately so, each comprising a semicircular portion and two parallel side portions, one of which is made longer than the other, and a third blade, as 4, comprising two semicircular portions and three parallel side portions, and said several blades are attached to a plate g and arranged in the manner shown, so that each time they are caused I0 penetrate the material the slits or cuts thereof will be continuous and several welts produced or cut out.

In Fig. 8 the full lines represent the slits or cuts produced by the first stroke of the knives and the dotted lines the slits 'or cuts produced by the second stroke, and on the first stroke parts of four welts are produced, and on the second stroke likewise parts of four welts are produced, although in conjunction with the first stroke two complete welts are produced, and for each stroke thereafter two complete welts will be produced,

The blades 2, 3, and at project downwardly from the base-plate 9 any suitable distance, and between them fiat surfaced presserplates 5 are located, which are supported at a-distance from the base-plate just beyond the material in advance of the blades. These presser-plates serve to not only assist in bolding the material fiat on the cutting-bed, but also as an ejector.

The base-plate 9, bearing the knives, is secured to a frame h, which is made as a carriage to slide along on a suitable track provided for it.

it represents the truck-wheels, and 71 b the tracks on- Which saidwheels run, said tracks being formed on the beam 1). The carriage bearing ,the knives is thus supported by said beam, and consequently rises and falls with said beam. i

In order that the successive strokes of the knives shall cut the material in continuous lines and completed welts be thereby produced, it is necessarythat the carriage hearing the knives shall be positively located and .,accurately held in its different positions along the track, and to accomplish this result a suitable locking device is provided for the carriage adapted to be operated by hand. a

The locking device hereinshown, which is oneof many which maybe employed, consists'of a vertical pin 2', (see Fig. 7,) set in the frame of the carriage and normally projecting above'it, which is adapted to enter any one of a series of notches 7 formed in a bar 6 secured to the under sideof the beam 1). The pin is pressed into engagement with the notches by a spring "6 To disengage the pint, a shaftj has its hearings in the carriage-frame, to which a short arm j is secured, which engages the lower end portion of the pin 1 and said shaft has secured to it ahand-lever j by which it may be rocked to thereby depress the spring-controlled pin.

The carriage when disengaged or unlocked is movedalong by means of the hand-lever 10*, attached to it.

To assist in accurately locating the knives and also to prevent crowding aside of the material as it is cut, a blunt-edgedblade or plate m is provided, which acts as a finder and which is adapted to be thrustinto one of the slits produced by the previous stroke of the knives, preferably the last slit next the uncut material, and said blade or tinder by thus entering said slit holds the material and assists in accurately locating the knives. The blade m or finder is attached to the frame 172,

V which slides up and down in grooves formed by the plates m attached to the carriage, and said frame m has a lug m beneath which an arm m? projects, which is attached to the rod or bar j and is consequently operated bythe hand-lever WVhenever said hand-lever is moved to release the locking-pin 't', the blade on will be raised free from the work, and

whenever said hand-lever is restored to its normal position the blade on will be allowed to fall and enter the slit. Having thus described myinvention, what sidewise movement on the bed, substantially as described.

2. In a sole-leather-cutting machine, the combination of a cutting-bed, a beam movable teward and from said bed, one or more awls'and an awl-carrier, and means for operating them to penetrate the material on the bed and thereby hold it against sidewise movement,-substantially as described.

3. In a sole-leather-cutting machine, the combination of a cutting-bed, a beam movable toward and from said bed, a work-engag ing device for holding the material fiat upon the bed, and a work-securing device for holding the material against sidewise movement on the bed, substantially as described.

4. In a sole-leather-cntting machine, the combination of a cutting-bed, a beam movable toward and from said bed, a work-engaging device for holding the material flat upon the bed, and a work-securing device for holding the material against sidewise movement on the bed, which is borne by said work-engaging device, substantially as described.

5. In a sole-leather-cutting machine, the combinationof a cutting-bed, a beam movable toward and from said bed, a work-engaging device'for holding the material flat upon the bed, and a work-securing device adjustably attached to said work-engaging device, for holding the material against sidewise movement on the bed, substantially as described.

i 6. In a sole-leather-cutting machine, the combination of a cutting-bed, a beam mov:

able toward and from said bed, a knife, a car-.

riage supporting it, a movable blade, m, borne by said carriage, and means for moving it, substantially as described. i

7. In a sole-leather-cutting machine, the combination of a cutting-bed, a beam movable toward and from said bed, a knife, a carriage supporting it, a blade, m, borne by said carriage and means for moving it independently of the beam, substantially as described.

8. In a sole-leather-cutting machine, the combination ofa cutting-bed, a beam movable toward and from said bed, a knife, a carriage supporting it, and means, borne by said carriage, for engaging the cut portion of the leather before the knife is operated, substantially as described.

9. In a sole-lcather-cutting machine, the combination of a cutting-bed, a beam movable toward and from said bed, a knife, a carriagesupporting it, tracks on the beam on which said carriage moves, a notched bar on ICC IIO

said beam, a spring-controlled locking-pin on the carriage and means for operating said locking-pin consisting of an arm, a rock-shaft to which it is attached, and a hand-lever atable toward and from said bed, a knife, a carriage supporting it, a movable blade, m, borne by said carriage, a lockingdevice for said carriage, and means for simultaneously operating said blade and locking device, substantial] y as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE D. CLAPP. Witnesses:

B. J. N OYES, H. B. DAVIS. 

